January 18, 2014

In medieval times, the Knights Templar fought for Christians during the Crusades. But today, according to a new report from McClatchy newspapers, meth-peddling gangsters in Mexico have taken the Templar name.

It's an ironic twist that Roman Catholic clergy among their fiercest enemies, and are being forced to wear bullet-proof vests as a consequence.

This is happening in the Mexican state of Michoacan, where Catholic priests are openly backing armed vigilante groups that are pushing back against the Knights Templar gang.

“We ask politicians, the government and the Interior Secretariat to give people of our region clear signals that in reality they want to halt the ‘killing machine,’ ” said Bishop Miguel Patino Velazquez.

January 15, 2014

A 4-year-old girl used her mother’s cellphone to call for help after the woman passed out last week on a rural road in northeast Parker County, authorities said.

The mother, Alicia Pruitt, 24, of Springtown (shown here) was released on bail after she was charged with public intoxication, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance, authorities said.

“There is no telling what could have happened to this child, had she not been able to call for help,” Parker County Sheriff Larry Fowler said.